Safety attachment for stamping, punching, or cutting machines.



A. H, BEIL. SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR STAMPING, PUNGHING, 0R CUTTING MACHINES.

Patented Decp23, 1913.

UNTTE STATS ARTHUR H. BEIL, OF JAMAICA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 'IO FRANK D. CREAMER, OE BROOKLYN, NEVT .Z'GRK.

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOB STAMPING, IPUNGHING, OR CUTTING MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. Bern, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamaica, county of Queens, State of New York, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Safety Attachments for Stamping, Punching, or Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to safety attachments for machines such as stamping, punching or cutting machines.

The object of the invention is to provide means in connection with a safety gate or barrier employed with machines of the character referred to whereby when the safety gate or barrier is opened, the operation of the machine in connection with which it is used is automatically arrested or the machine locked against operation and when the safety gate or barrier is closed, the machine is released ready for operation.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and arrangement of parts all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth as shown in the accompanying drawing and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing and to the various views and reference signs appearing thereon :--Figure l is a view in side elevation, parts broken off and parts broken out showing the application of a safety attachment embodying my invention to a stamping or punching machine of typical design. Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal section on the line 2, 2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the safety gate or barrier in open position and the lock mechanism in position to arrest or prevent the operation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, parts broken off showing the arrangement of the locking mechanism in released position when the safety gate or barrier is closed. Fig. 4 is a broken view in front elevation showing an arrangement of clutch mechanism and the application thereto of a safety lock embodying my invention.

The same part is designated by the same reference numeral Wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In the operation of machines of various kinds, particularly stamping, punching and cutting machines, the danger is incurred of the machine operator or attendant being in- Specification of Letters JEatent.

Application filed March 5, 1913.

Patented Dec. 23,1213.

Serial No. 752,123.

jured through inadvertently placing the hand or finger in position to be caught by the reciprocating plunger or other moving part of the machine. It is customary to employ in connection with machines of the nature referred to a treadle mechanism through which the operation of the machine is controlled, a clutch device being operated by the treadle mechanism to throw the machine into and out of operation. In order to protect the hands of the machine attendantfrom accidental injury while operating the machine, it is a common expedient to employ a gate or barrier to prevent the attendant from gaining access to the working parts of the machine while it is in operation. Frequently, however, when the safety guard or gate has been opened by the machine attendant, in order to permit access to the working parts of the machine for adjustment of the work or for other purpose, through negligence, carelessness or other cause, the operation ofthe machine is not arrested or its operation is started up too soon or before the safety gate or barrier is closed with the frequent result of injuring or maiming the attendant.

It is among the special purposes of my present invention to provide means whereby when the safety gate or barrier is opened to permit access to the working parts of the machine, the machine becomes automatically locked against operation and remains locked against operation until the safety gate or barrier is again closed when the lock is automatically released by the act of closing the safety gate.

In carrying out my invention in its broadest scope, as defined in the claims, it is obvious that the particular type or design of machine to which the safety lock is to be applied is quite immaterial. It is also obvious that the manner of rendering the lock effective to arrest the operation of the machine is also immaterial.

As a practical and operative embodiment of my invention, T have shown a safety attachment or lock embodying the principles of my invention applied to a punching or stamping machine, the working part of which reciprocates vertically and the operation of which is controlled through a clutch mechanism which in turn is operated by means of a treadle to start and stop the machine and I have shown the safety lock attachment as applied to arrest or to lock the treadle connection to the clutch mechanism, when the safety gate is open, thereby preventing the operation of the machine during the time the safety gate remains open.

In the drawing 5 designates the frame of a punching, stamping, cutting or other machine and 6 the working part of the machine which in this instance reciprocates vertically in gibs or guideways in the machine frame being vertically reciprocated in any convenient manner by suitable connections to a main drive shaft 7, upon which is mounted the drive wheel 8 adapted to be driven in any suitable manner or from any convenient source of power.

The operation of the drive shaft '7, or its coupling to the drive wheel 8 is, in the arrangement shown, controlled by a clutch mechanism indicated generally at 9, and which may be of any suitable form or construction. The clutch mechanism is controlled from a treadle 10 through a treadle rod 11 in a well understood manner. Pivotally mounted upon a convenient part of the machine frame is a locking member having a curved arm portion 12 to the end of which is connected a spring 13, the tension of which is normally exerted upon said looking member to rock the same into position for the curved arm portion 12 thereof to engage underneath a collar let which is ad-. justably mounted upon the treadle rod 11 in such relation as to prevent the manipulation of said treadle rod to cause the driving wheel 8 to be coupled to the working member 6 of the machine. Movably mounted at the front of the machine is a safety guard or gate 15 adapted when closed as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to be locked in closed position by the locking pawl 16, and to form a safety guard whereby the machine attendant is prevented from inadvertently exposing his hands or other parts of his body to the danger of being injured while the machine is in operation. Carried by the movable guard or gate 15 is a pin or projection 17 which, as the gate or guard approaches its closed position engages an arm 18 of the locking member and rocks the same against the tension of spring 13 and into position to carry the curved arm 12 of the locking member out of engaging relation with reference to the stop 14 on the treadle rod 11, or from the position shown in Fig. 2 into the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby freeing the treadle rod 11 and enabling the same to be operated from the treadle 10 to cause the main shaft of the machine to be coupled to its driving wheel 8. The locking member remains in its disengaged position as long as the safety gate remains closed or is held in closed position by the locking pawl 16. When, however, the safety gate is opened the rod or projection 17 is withdrawn from engagement with the arm 18 of the locking member and thereupon the spring 13 becomes effective to rock the rocking member again into the position shown in Fig. 2 to form a stop for the collar 14 and prevent the operation of the machine.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide an exceedingly simple safety attachment for machines whereby the danger of accidental, inadvertent or careless operation of the machine by an attendant while engaged in inspecting the work or adjusting the work holder, punches, cutters or other part of the machine or the work, thereby endangering the attendant is completely avoided, the mere act of opening or closing the safety gate serving to lock and unlock the machine.

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and a construction embodying the principles thereof, and having explained its purpose, function and mode of operation, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a safety attachment for machines, the combination with the operating part of the machine, a control connection therefor to throw the same into operation, and a locking member for the control connection, said locking member arranged to normally engage said connection to prevent the same from moving to start the operating part of the machine into operation, of a safety gate movable into position to prevent access to the working part of the machine, means carried by the gate to engage said locking member and remove the same from its normal engagement with said control connection when said gate is moved into position to prevent access to the working part of the machine, and means wholly independent of the gate or its movements for operating said control connection.

2. The combination of a frame, a power operated machine tool mounted and operating in said frame, means for controlling the operation of said tool, a stop device to hold said controlling means against action, a safety gate pivotally mounted on said frame in front of said tool to swing independently of said control means into position to cover said tool, and means carried by said gate and arranged to engage and release said st-op device when said gate is swung into covering relation to said tool.

3. The combination of a frame, a power operated tool mounted and operating in said frame, means for controlling the operating of said tool, a stop device for said means, said stop device being yieldingly held normally in position to lock said controlling means against operation, a safety gate pivotally mounted on said frame in front of said tool to swing independently of said tool controlling means into safety position with respect to said tool, and means carried by said gate and arranged to engage and release said stop device from locking relation to said controlling means when the gate is swung into safety position with respect to the tool.

at. The combination with a power operated machine tool and means for controlling the operation thereof including a treadle operated rod, of a safety gate, and a locking device for said treadle rod, said safety gate being movable into closed position independently of said treadle rod and having means to operate said locking device to released position when said gate is closed.

5. The combination with a power operated machine tool, and means for throwing the same into and out of action including a treadle rod, of a locking member normally operating to lock said rod against action, a safety gate movable into closed position independently ofthe treadle rod and means carried by said gate and arranged to engage said locking member and release the same when the gate is closed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses on this 1st day of March A. D.,

ARTHUR H. BEIL. WVitnesses:

FRANK BAMBARA, JosnPH R. BRENNAN.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

